Condenser type electrode



3 Sheets-Sheet l I Filed Dec. 10, 1954 Fig.1

Fig.5

asz WVENTOG- Jay/W April 27, 1937. I E. LAST I 2,073,391

CONDENSER TYPE ELECTRODE Filed Dec. 10, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 27, 1937. E. LAST CONDENSER TYPE ELECTRODE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5' Filed Dec 10,1934

lasi Patented Apr. 27, 1937 PATENT OFFICE compasses. ms nmcmna Erwin Vienna, Austria Application December, 1934, Serial No. mass In Austria January 10, 1934 '9 Claims. 138-41.)

This invention relates to electro-medical con trivances and more particularly to "electrodes for electric fieldtreatment as wellas to methods of manufacturing the same. The invention has for 5, its object to provide electrodes particularly designed for short wave treatment [by which term I wish to have understood treatment with waves of wave-length. of the order of 3 to 20 meters] and for this purpose the electrodes consist essentially of 'a nonconducting layer of essentially uniform thickness accurately moulded to conform to the part of the body to be treated in the manner of a mask, and of a metal coating fitted to the outer surface of the said layer, that is to say,

0 to its side furthest removed from the part of the body to which the electrode is applied. The metal coating of the electrode is at all points equidistant from the surface of the part of the body to be treated, even when this latter is of irregular or varied shape as in the case, for instance, of the human face.

The said non-conducting layer may consist in toto of a mass capable of being mouldedfand hardened. This layer may adv'antageouslybe made ofporous material such as plaster of Paris or the like which whenapplied directly to the surface treated, permits of absorption'of the humidity secreted by the skin in consequence of the heating effect. Material of this description also ensures uniform heating of the whole of the parts of the body to be treated. Other mouldable materials such as certain kinds of rubber are also suitable for use as materials from which to make the said non-conducting layer. Compounds of vegetable or animal fibrous matter with hardening binders, for instance a compound of gypsum. fibrous matter,rubber, hair and rosin and the like, resulting in a porous unbreakable body of be provided for.

the nature of stiff felt, have also proved to be very well suited for the purpose. The possibility of ready cleaning of the complete electrode has to If necessary several materials can also be combined.

In order to'reinforce the non-conducting layer, textile fabrics, such as bandages and the like, can be imbedded therein.

The metal part of the electrode consists of metal foil. (tin, lead, aluminium), of wire gauze, or as far as it is permitted by the configuration of the surface treated, of a more or less thick plate of lead or otherv metallic material capable of acquiring and retaining the shape of the part to be treated. V i a The insulating layer is intended to carry and hold the metal part uniformly spaced from the case. If, for instance, certain areas are to be heated to a greater or less'extent than the surrounding parts for therapeutic reasons, the thickness or the nature of the material maybe varied 'at the corresponding points.

Good results can also be obtained with the solid insulating layer separated from the surface of the body by an air space afforded by distancing elements bearing upon the surface treated' The penetration is increased with this construction. In this case the insulating layer is composed, on one hand, of the mouldable hardening mass and on the other hand of the air space. It is advisable to employthis form, for. example for application to very sensitive parts of the body. The heating action is less marked and the surface treated may even be eflectively cooled. Since it is the uniform spacing of. the metal part from the surface treated which is of primary importance, it will sufiice, even if the facing material and the air space be of nonuniform, thickness, provided only the sum of the two thicknesses is uniform throughout so that the metal coating is disposed equidistant from the surface of the part of the body treated.

Further objects of the invention will be. described with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichl lg. 1 is a vertical section of. an electrode with a solid insulating layer applied to I use, Fig. 2 is a similar view ofan electrode with an insulating layer composed partly of anair space, and Figs. 3 to 5 are detail views ofmodifications of this latter embodiment. These figures are further intended to illustrate the method of manufacturing of the respective electrodes. Fig. 6 illustrates two electrodes connected with a short wave generator. v

Referring to the drawings in detail, in Fig. 1 the numeral l indicates the surface treated, and 2 is the insulating layer. of solid material. .The metal coating 3 fitted to the outer surface of the insulating layer is covered by an insulating protective coating 4. A respiratory aperture is pro- ,vided at 8. The coating 4 is principally intended to prevent .the current carrying metal coating I from beingtouched or damaged.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the moulded solid insulating layer i2 is kept spaced from the face by means of insulating distancing elements 8, thus providing an intervening stratum of air of the thickness designated at a.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the distancing elements are formed by projecting edges of the layer 4, embracing the metal coating and the solid insulating layer l2. These edges have recesses I admitting of the access of air and defining spacing studs Ii. In view of the slight thickness of the solid insulating layer i2 in the embodiments shown in Figs. 2 to 4 the insulating layer is not very resistant to mechanical stress, and for this reason the backing or outer layer 4 is therefore so constructed as to constitute a carrier body for the electrode.

In the event however of the insulating layer being sufficiently resistant to mechanical stress as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 it serves me similar manner for spacing the electrode from the body, the insulating layer H2 in this case bein8 provided with an edge I I5 interrupted by recesses I". In this case an insulating coating ill of lacquer or the like will be substituted for the outer layer 4.

The current is supplied in each case through a cable 8. In Fig. 6 the terminals of a short wave generator are indicated with 20, one terminal being connected over the cable 8 to the face electrode 2| prepared in accordance with this invention and the other terminal over a cable I! to a counter electrode 22 applied for instance to the back of the head. This counter electrode may be also constructed in accordance with this invention.

The electrode shown in Fig. 1 is made as followsz -Upon the surface treated or upon a positive cast thereof there is applied a layer of uni form thickness throughout, which becomes subsequently the insulating layer 2, and after having hardened, its outer surface is provided with the current-carrying coating 3 which is connected to the current supply-cable I. The metal coating is then covered with a layer 4 resistant to mechanical stress. 7

With the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the proceeding is essentially similar, only there is first applied an auxiliary layer 9 of easily removed material, such as, for instance, wax or gelatine which acts as a. temporary spacer a so as to provide a thickness of air after it is removed. The distancing elements 5 are inserted in recesses III of the auxiliary layer 9, after which the layer I2 is prepared and the elements 5 imbedded therein or alternatively in the carrying layer 4. If both the intervening stratum of air and also the insulating intermediate layer are disposed equidistantly, more accurate dosage of the treatment is rendered possible, but at the same time the manufacturing of the electrode is more complicated.

With the embodiment drawn in Figs. 3 and 4 the careful preparation of the layer 4 is of importance, this layer being not only a support for the metal coating 3 and for the insulating layer It, but also serving as the distancing elements. The marginal portion I5 which embraces the metal coating 3 and the solid intermediate layer I2 is extended so as to engage the surface treated (positive cast). The recesses I which admit of the access of air may be formed simultaneously with the moulding of the layer 4 and of the marginal portion l5 thereof or they may be formed by removing material after the hardening of the full marginal portion. The studs II are left. standing Electrodes made in accordance with the invention are also particularly well suited for ultra short wave treatment 1. e. treatment with waves shorter than 3 meters.

I claim:-

1. A condenser type electrode comprising an insulating layer shaped to provide an external surface conforming to the surface of the part of the body to be treated, the internal surface of the layer being adapted to be presented to the surface of the part of the body to be treated, a metal coating fitted to the external surface of the said layer, and a current supply terminal connected to the said metal coating.

2. A condenser type electrode comprising an insulating layer shaped to conform to the surface of the part of the body to be treated, a metal coating fitted to the surface of the said layer furthest removed from the said surface treated, and a current supply terminal connected to the said metal coating, certain parts of the said layer being of diflerent thicknesses.

3. A condenser type electrode as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the provision of distancing elements adapted to space said layer from the surface of the part of the body to be treated.

4. In the condenser type electrode set forth in claim 1 a mechanically resistant insulating outer layer covering the said metal coating on its side furthest removed from the said surface to be treated, a marginal portion embracing the said metal coating and the said insulating layer and projecting from the said outer layer, said marginal portion having recesses defining studs, said studs being adapted to space the said insulating layer from the surface to be treated.

5. A method for producing condenser type electrodes consisting in applying a plastic hardening insulating mass in a layer of equal thickness at all points upon the surface of the part of the body to be treated or upon a positive cast thereof, hardening the said layer, fitting an electrically conductive coating only to the surface of the said layer furthest removed from the said surface treated and connecting current supply means to the said coating.

6. A method for producing condenser type electrodes consisting in applying an auxiliary layer of easily removed mass upon the surface of the part of the body to be treated or upon a positive cast thereof, applying a layer of plastic hardening insulating mass upon the said auxiliary layer,

said two layers forming together a combined layer of equal thickness at all points, hardening the said second layer, fitting an electrically conductive coating only to the surface of the said second layer furthest removed from the said surface treated, connecting current supply means to the said coating and fixing distancing elements extending through the said auxiliary layer to the said surface treated upon the structure comprising the said second layer and the said metal coating, and removing the said auxiliary layer.

7. In the method set forth in claim 6 the said auxiliary layer and the said second layer being applied each with uniform thickness.

8. In a condenser type electrode as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the provision oi distancing elements adapted to space said layer from the surface of the part oi the body to be 5 treated. said distancing elements beiny constituted by a marginal portion of said layer and having recesses therein defining studs adapted to space said layer from the surface treated.

9. A condenser type electrode as claimed in claim 1 characterizedinthataaid insulatinzlayer is composed of absorbent material.

, IRWIN LAST. 

